The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More Palestinians withdraw their candidacies for mayoralities of West Bank towns, including jamil Tarifi of al-Birah and Muhammad Rashid Ja'bari, of Hebron; Fathi Fahmawi, of Janin, abandons plan to organize municipal council acceptable to Israel [WP, PI 3/5]. Israel Radio reports gun used to kill al-Masri is same as one used in killing of Israeli border policeman in January and an Israeli merchant last August, both in Nablus [WP, PI, LT 3/5]. Jerusalem District Court sends Israeli bailiffs to Palestinian-run Jerusalem Electricity Company to evaluate and mark company's equipment; bailiffs give company 3 weeks to pay $10 million debt to the Israel Electric Corporation before JEC's property will be seized; workers declare partial strike in protest of the measure [JP 3/5, 6].

Arab World: PLO leadership meets in Tunis to discuss response to King Hussein's unilateral break from joint M.E. peace approach [MG 3/5].

Other Countries: New White House National Security Advisor Vice Admiral John Poindexter will replace 2 top M. E. staffers, James Covey and Howard Teicher with Dennis Ross, former senior Pentagon official and strong supporter of close U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation [JP 3/4].

Military Action

Arab World: Hizballah publishes names of 11 people it executed in reprisal for massive car bombing in W. Beirut last March which it said was intended to kill Hizballah's spiritual leader, Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah; organization states the 11 worked for section of Lebanese intelligence that cooperated with Israeli and U.S. intelligence [JP 3/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Foreign Min. official David Kimche summons diplomats from UNIFIL, UN Sec. Council nations for explanation of recent anti-resistance campaign in S. Lebanon; accuses Pres. Gemayel of provoking violence [PI 3/6]. MK's Meir Cohen-Avidov, Yuval Ne'eman return from US with pledges of $70,000 for Keren Hebron fund, a taxdeductible US charity for families of Jewish underground defendants [JP 3/5]. Palestinian prisoners at Jnaid, Nafha prisons initiate hunger strike in solidarity with striking inmates at Ashkelon prison (begun 2/22) [FJ 3/8]. Clash between nationalists and Islamic fundamentalist factions injures 8 at Islamic U., Gaza; 20 arrested; studies suspended for one day [FJ 3/8]. Jewish underground defendant Dan Be'eri plea bargains with Jerusalem District Court to reduce number of charges against him in connection with plot to blow up al-Haram al-Sharif [JP 3/6]. Strike called by 52 Palestinian town councils ends after Interior Min. promises to cover their municipal debts totalling IS 1.4 billion [FJ 3/8].

Arab World: Thousands of Shi'ites march in Beirut protesting 3/4, IDF raid on Ma'rakah [WP 3/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Grenade thrown at IDF patrol in Sa'ir; IDF detain over 150, destroy property; 24-hr. curfew imposed. [MG, FJ, JP 3/7].